NOTE: The
following is a series of homily aids/bulletin inserts created by Fr.
Steve Binsfeld, rector
of the Cathedral of St.
Mary, St. Cloud, for use during fall,
2004.
You might borrow this approach or use some of these as starting points
in developing your
own parish prayers or reflections on evangelization. . .
BULLETIN ITEMS
/ HOMILY CONNECTIONS
by Fr. Steve Binsfeld
HOW ARE WE A WELCOMING
PARISH?
I have written what is below for any of you to use in any way
you would like to do so. In preparation for the beginning
of Catholics Coming Home, it is important to prepare a seedbed. I
have gone through the weekend scriptures and "isolated"
a section of one of the readings of the day that could be used
to in an 'isogetical' form for the bulletin or as a homily idea. Feel
free to change, copy -- whatever.
- Fr. Steve Binsfeld
SUNDAY, AUGUST 29-22nd Sunday of O.T. - C
Gospel: Luke 14: 1, 7-14
" When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the
blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you."
CONNECTION
Those who have come undone, those going to pieces, those who are broken or
breaking down are to find that they are lifted up and held safely and gently
here. Fragile, tender, even raw, one is always healed with hospitality
and human warmth. At our gathering there is a place for everyone. Those
acquainted with judgment and rejection, those deemed "less distinguished" because
of their race, their age, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status-the
poor and the lame-they have a place of honor within us. In the Lord's house,
importance is not an issue; it is a given. In God's house, everyone is
important and tender. Do we believe it? Do we live it? (Even
if someone lives a lifestyle with which we disagree?) Do we still treat
them like a person precious in the eyes of God? We are called as a Catholic
Christian community to cultivate and nurture humility and hospitality: to practice
it, to perfect it. Exercise imitating Christ with broad, deep, and humble hospitality. Be
quick to welcome those who cannot repay you. In that way we give the
church and the city a glimpse of the kingdom and the city of God---and we
ourselves will be blessed.
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SEPTEMBER 5 - 23rd Sunday in O.T.--C
Paul's Letter to Philemon
" Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have
him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved
especially to me, but even more so to you as a man and in the Lord. So
if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me."
CONNECTION
What a strange reading we have in this shortest book of the Christian
Scriptures, a letter written by Paul to Philemon, a Christian slave-owner,
about one
of his run-away slaves whom Paul had converted while imprisoned in Rome. And
what a dilemma Philemon has! Paul just turned his world upside down. "Of
course my runaway slave should be punished. He has no class standing whatsoever. He
was property. But now..Paul tells me he is Christian and that I should
welcome him as I would Jesus himself." Unrecognized, the millions
who are alienated from our Catholic family-for so many reasons-become a gaping
wound in the Body of Christ-a hemorrhage of anger, frustration, pain, and rejection.
SEPTERMBER 12-24th Sunday of OT--C
Gospel: Luke 15
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would
not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds
it? When he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and,
upon his arrival home, calls together his friends and says to them, 'Rejoice
with me because I have found my lost sheep.' *There will be more joy in heaven
over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no
need of repentance."*. "Quickly bring the finest robe and put
in on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take
the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because
this son of
mine was dead and has come back to life again; he was lost and has been
found."
CONNECTION:
We would all like to think of ourselves as "following Jesus." However,
do we walk the same pathway in showing mercy and expressing thanks and joy
at the mercy that is shown to everyone equally? If we are to be a parish
who welcomes others-no matter what their situation in life-we have to first
acknowledge the imperfections in our own lives. All of us need the Lord's
mercy. Only one person was born without the stain of original sin-Mary. We
are prone to fooling ourselves that we are "better than others" because "at
least we didn't do what they did" or "thank God I am not like the
rest of them." The seeds that lead to our fall are within us. We
are called as a parish to be 'wounded healers,' .not the 'walking wounded.'
This means that we are people who know our own failings and sinfulness, have
accepted the Lord's forgiveness and who know Jesus challenge to be merciful
as he is merciful. This is not done with an attitude of "I am better
than him or her," with a sense of self-righteous smugness, but remembering
that God loved us through our own stupidity and arrogance. Do we put
conditions on others, give them hoops they must jump through before we put
a "ring on their finger and clothe them with the finest robe" in
imitation of Christ. Is it better to love people and to accept
them as they are, showing great love*and let the Holy Spirit do the work
to lead
them
to a more whole and holy life?
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SEPTEMBER 19-25th Sunday in O.T.-C
Reading: Amos
" Hear this, you who trample on the needy and destroy the poor of the land!*The
Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they
have done."
CONNECTION:
On the "west bank" of the Tiber River flowing through the city of
Rome, in a church named Santa Maria in Trastevere, a historic poorer section
of old Rome, one meets a collection of all kinds of people-rich, poor, beggars
and rich. On Holy Thursday the community of San Eggidio, a fairly substantial
group of professional people who meet for prayer every week and work to care
for the poor, move all the pews in this ancient, beautiful and worn basilica
and put up tables to serve a meal for the poor, welcoming them as guests of
Christ. This is done before the Holy Thursday liturgy. All guests
are treated with respect and dignity equally. Do we, in our community,
welcome all of our guests and members as we would welcome Christ himself, with
respect and dignity? We often have no idea what they have endured in
their life. How we welcome them and show our respect may make
all the difference in the world that day.
SEPTEMBER 26-26TH SUNDAY IN O.T.--C
Gospel
" My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted
here, whereas you are tormented."
CONNECTION
Lazarus and the rich man are models of the 'have-nots' and the 'haves.' Could
this be a microcosm of what so often happens in our church today? -Those who
'have' the true faith (religion) and those who 'have not' or better--who don't
agree with or question or live contrary to how or what I believe. Coupled
with this story is the reading from Amos that warns s of the attitude that
says "we deserve" our blessings and 'they' deserve what they get. All
we have and are is a gift from God. When we truly understand that and
believe that we can begin to live as one with others. We won't be threatened
by others doubt, our questioning. Without God we are nothing. As
followers of Jesus we are to live out a sense of 'connectedness' with others. When
we do this, we model Christ. No*we may not agree with the arguments or
criticisms of others, or the situation in which they may live their lives,
but love them anyway. Invite them to join you at Mass and in prayer. Love
them as Jesus loves them. We win the hearts and souls of others
not by keeping them on the outside because we are so right, but because
we
love them
and show that love in hospitality and service. This opens them to live
the truth.
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OCTOBTER 3-27th SUNDAY IN O.T.--C
Gospel:
" Is he (the master) grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? Should
it be with you? When you have done all you have been commanded,
say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged
to do.'"
CONNECTION
This parable is tough, because most of us want to be noticed for
what we do. We're
not talking about blowing our own horns. But we just don't like to say
of myself-"I am just a worthless servant who's just doing my duty." No
way! The question then is, "What is my concept of God?" Is
God someone before whom I must jockey into position so God will see what I
am doing 'for HIM?" But is it really "for HIM?" Looking at it
that way, who wants to serve a god who withholds love until obedience is proven? This
parable has to do with our perception of God. It is through the lens
of our perceptions of God and Jesus that we approach God in prayer, worship,
and service. We can do so in fear and reluctance or stay away altogether. So
many people who are searching for the love of God have been hurt by what we
'church people' say and do, often times unwittingly. This is true for
priests and laity alike. Sometimes when we are tired we can be cranky
and that last phone caller of the day knows it. Chances are that someone
seeking God' s love may have been turned away. Maybe it is someone who
wants to sit in that pew in which you ALWAYS been sit*and you are NOT going
to let that newcomer take what is rightfully yours. You may make all
the difference in the world by the way you smile and simply slide over and
say in one way or another, "I am glad you are here. We all
need God's mercy. We are all already loved by God."
OCTOBER 10---28th SUNDAY IN O.T.--C
Gospel
And one of them, realizing that he had been healed, returned,
glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus
and thanked him.
He was a
Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where
are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks
to God? Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; for your
faith has saved you."
CONNECTION
As we grow older, we recognize that the church, while having its
origin in Christ who is both human and divine, still has its
very human side. The
church is 'in process' just as we are. Because it is made of human beings,
its members are also capable of error and of sin. When interviewed about the
section in his recent book regarding his relationship with Ms. Lewinsky, former
President Clinton said he did what he did "because he could." We
might think: "How arrogant!" But then, isn't that why any of
us decide to do or not do something? Because we can! That is the
nature of free will. We make choices for good or for evil because "we
can." Catholicism is a way of living modeled by Jesus, described
in the New Testament, and in the experience of the early church.. The
pope and clergy have role in the church; they are not the church, but fellow
members of the church. We are all called to discipleship, to bring about
the reign of God's peace, love, and forgiveness on this earth. In this
context the church becomes a road map that gives direction for the journey,
provides relationships that encourage and support, and celebrate life through
sacraments and liturgical celebrations. In a sense, "church" is
a verb, what we do, what we say, the way we acknowledge God's presence gratefully
every moment of our lives, not just on Sunday mornings. We see new faces
of God every day, in ever experience, in every person we meet. Always
growing and changing, we are to create a church that cannot do otherwise. We
live in a spirit of gratitude, returning to the Source of Goodness
to say our thanks every week.
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OCTOBER 17-29TH SUNDAY IN O.T.-C
Reading: Exodus
As long as Moses kept his hand raised up, Israel had the better of
the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of
the fight. Moses
hands, however grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile
Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other,
so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
CONNECTION
There are differing views of the human person. Catholic Christian values
say: 1. All life, all creation is originated by God. God
has infused human life with God's love through Jesus, God-with-us. 2. Each
of us is connected to the rest of humanity, to the rest of creation through
this God-presence with us. 3. Because we share God's life with all human
beings, we have co-responsibility for human dignity, suffering and freedom. In
contrast, our American individualist values tell us: 1. That the human
person is completely autonomous, independent of others, of our environment,
of any sense of global community. 2. My connection, social ties, or responsibilities
to others result only from freely-chosen contracts or agreements. 3. We
are naturally and morally independent of one another. I am not affected by
the plight of others unless I choose to be. So you see, we, like
Aaron and Hur, are called to help hold each other's arms up in prayer,
because
our existence as a church and Christ's presence in the world does indeed
depend
upon how we are with each other.
OCTOBER 24-30TH SUNDAY IN O.T.--C
Gospel
The tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise
his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, "O God, be merciful to me, a
sinner." I tell you, the latter wen home justified , not the former; for
those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves
will be exalted.
CONNECTION
Reconciliation is the heart of "Catholics Coming Home" ministry in
our parish. Reconciliation, like all Catholic sacraments, is not a 'magical
zapping.' Sacraments help us remember and take note of the presence of the
risen Christ in our midst. There are many sacramental 'moments' in our lives. They
don't 'cause this to happen' but they stop us in our spiritual tracks so we
pay attention to what is happening. They are the reassurance of God's
everlasting love and participation, moment by moment, throughout all our days. We
as the community are called not only to witness the sacramental reality in
any sacrament, but we are also to provide a sense of belonging. In a
particular way, we as the community of faith and the sacramental 'recipient'
bond themselves to one another in a covenant relationship. Sacramental belonging
calls to mind not only those present when the sacrament is celebrated, but
all who have journeyed before and all whose lives are connected to ours throughout
the worldwide faith community. We as a faith community are to take the
stance of the tax collector and say, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" as
we stand together with those who want to come home to the church. We
are all fellow sinners in need of God's gracious healing and grace.
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OCTOBER 30-31st SUNDAY IN O.T.-C
Gospel
So he (Zacchaeus) ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to
see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place,
Jesus
looked up
and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly for I must stay at your
house."
CONNECTION
The Body of Christ is about BELONGING, about relationship. Eucharist
-the Mass - is a call to each of us to be church for others. Those who
seek to return to the church are looking for Jesus. They will not see
Christ if they don't see it in us. Like Christ, we are to invite to let
them know that they have found the right place, that Christ is here and wants
to stay in their home, in their heart. We are to be ministers
of that gracious hospitality where people find a home in Christ.
NOVEMBER 7 - 32nd SUNDAY IN O.T. - C
Gospel
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came
forward and put this question to Jesus*"
CONNECTION
The Sadducees in today's gospel provide us with a model of a people
without hope. Their cynical question portrays their unbelief
in the resurrection of the dead. Thus they live only for today. Life
is short. The
Scriptures challenge us to think of our own death and what we hope for
out of our lives, as brief or as long as they may be. What
is the epithet that will be placed on our tombstones? "He
made a lot of money?" "She
was never late for work?" "He could play golf well?" "She
could cook up a storm?" While we may take pride in these things,
these things alone leave us empty. Rather, would you not want to
have "She
was a person of great integrity?" "He was kind to everyone
with whom he came into contact?" "People knew they were
valued by the way she treated them?" "When you were in
his presence you felt like you were the only one who mattered?" These
attributes bespeak a welcoming soul.
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NOVEMBER 14 - 33rd SUNDAY IN O.T. - C
Reading 2-2 Thessalonians
"We wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you may imitate
us."
CONNECTION
Paul tried to be a role model for the early Christian community
wherever he went. We are called to be role models in hospitality---as ministers at
the liturgy, when at parish functions and socials. Look around and see
those who move at the fringes or who seem to not know anyone. Can
we move out our usual patterns and be models of people who welcome
all guests
as we would welcome Christ himself?
NOVEMBER 21-CHRIST THE KING- C
Gospel:
"Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of
the Jews."
CONNECTION
Jesus is a king like no other we have known. His throne is a cross.
In him we see no attitude of revenge or anger. He is willing to forgive and
offers himself completely for the very men who kill him. This feast and
this Gospel call us to commit ourselves to be followers of this King.
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